Journalism School Graduate Brings Comedy to Politics and the News

In Travis Irvine's application to Columbia's Graduate School of Journalism , he wrote that he wanted his career to include travel, filmmaking, comedy, politics and, oh yes, journalism. An eclectic list to be sure, but the 28-year-old polymath has managed to do all of the above. In 2007, he ran for mayor of his hometown of Bexley, Ohio, and three years later ran for Congress in Ohio's 12th District. He's produced movies, campaign commercials and Internet videos, and has performed stand-up comedy around the country. As he picks up his M.S. degree in journalism on May 16 and ticks off the last item on his list, Irvine says, "I've learned that I can find a way to do something that combines all five." Irvine, who is already at work on a book, takes a broad view of journalism. Growing up, he practiced impressions and wrote humor pieces. He wasn't merely the class clown, graduating from high school in 2002 with a 4.0 average.